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Page 8: El Nino storms in
Roundup A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION
Woodland Hills, California Volume 124 - Issue 8
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
One copy free, each additional copy $1.00
A clothing line that speaks volumes Ruling by Italian Supreme Court in 1998 inspires movement against sexual assault GABY SORIANO Staff gsoriano.roundupnews@gmail.com
Max Sullivan / Roundup
Tony Fernandez, professor of political science and Chicano Studies, performs as the front man of a Doors cover band at Zanzibar in Santa Monica, Calif. on Sunday, April 17.
The return of the Lizard King
Political Science professor doubles as singer of Doors cover band MAX SULLIVAN News Editor
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msullivan.roundupnews@gmail.com
t was supposed to be the weekend the Peace Frog front man commemorated the 40th anniversary of his hero Jim Morrison’s July 3, 1971 death, by visiting his crypt in Paris, not his own. Yet, he found himself shoveling dirt into a grave, looking up to see his own name on the tombstone. “Oh my God, am I really dead,” he asked as his sister watched him dig. “Yeah, you really are dead,” she replied. First generation CubanAmerican Tony Fernandez is not dead, but he was well on the way until he woke up from his nightmare and knew he had to get his life in order. Fernandez was a highly functioning alcoholic with two master’s degrees, and is a professor in both Political Science and Chicano Studies at Pierce College. On weekends Fernandez portrays Jim Morrison in the Doors cover band “Peace Frog”, which he founded 18 years ago. He has since performed as Morrison in 14
Election week is here Students to vote for vacant seats in Academic Senate
JONATHAN HINTZ Staff
jhintz.roundupnews@gmail.com
This week’s elections for open positions in the Academic Senate will happen on Wednesday, April 27. Ballots will be collected at the Mall on April 27 and 28 from 9 a.m.
countries and 28 states. Now that Fernandez has nearly five years sober the question is what is next in life? Cuba in December. Fernandez’s obsession with The Doors began when growing up in a home rife with domestic violence. When he was 11 years old, he watched the film “Apocalypse Now” which includes a scene, in which The Doors song “The End” plays. For the first time in his life Fernandez came to the realization that authority could be questioned. “When I heard Jim Morisson say ‘father, yes son, I want to kill you,’ my ears perked up,” Fernandez said. “Can you do that? Is that possible?” Fernandez said he never looked at his father the same again and began to put his headphones on and ignore him. Then, when 14 years old, he had grown as tall as him. “I got in his face one time in the kitchen and stood toe to toe,” Fernandez said. “He didn’t make a move so I just stared at him” Within a month his father left the family and moved to Florida where he remarried. Fernandez has not had contact with him since. “I did kill him in a way. Yeah, he is dead. He is gone. He left,” Fernandez said. “The amazing to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. All registered students may vote in the election. The forum opened with candidates vying for a spot for trustee. Ali Ashgar, Brian Orlando Woods and Alexa Victoriano spoke at the forum. Each member projected their goals that they would like to accomplish should they receive the votes for trustee. Ashgar said that there needed to be change within the council, prices on textbooks and other class materials, and different food options for students. He is hopeful that if he is elected, he can accomplish his goals and meet the needs for students as a trustee. “If elected, I want everyone to be happy and feel that their issues have been dealt with at the end of my term,” Ashgar said. Ashgar believes there needs to be major leadership changes in the Board of Trustees. “The president needs to change, because he has been the one pushing for a one choice food option,” Ashgar said. Woods’ focus during the forum
power of music. I am Eternally grateful to Jim Morrison and The Doors for giving me that courage to stand up to my father.” Fernandez has been performing music professionally since 1989. Within six months of starting Peace Frog in 1998, the band was performing “Light My Fire” on Dick Clark’s nationally televised “Your Big Break” and then touring Australia. Peace Frog has since played in Japan, Tahiti, Europe, Central America, Mexico, Canada and throughout the United States. Shortly after, he regained sobriety Fernandez did a 17-city tour in India. Peace Frog has been doing residency gigs in Los Angeles since 2004, and currently rotates three musicians each at keyboard, drums and guitar. The only constant is Professor Tony Fernandez as Jim Morrison. Sunday, April 17 at Zanzibar in Santa Monica, a sober green-tea drinking Fernandez belted out two and a half hours straight of Doors classics. And that was only the first set. Keyboardist and left handed bass player, ala Ray Manzarek, John Harjo said Fernandez never loses
his voice, and is the best singer he works with. When it comes to Fernandez’ portrayal of Morrison, he is at the very top in the world, according to Harjo. “He has got it down. He has all the nuances,” Harjo said. “He has it going on” On Christmas break Fernandez plans to fly to Cancun and take a propeller plane to Havana to visit and play Cuba for the first time. He also hopes to connect with fellow political scientists at the University of Havana to discuss and speak about relations between the two countries. On March 20, 2016, Barack Obama became the first sitting president since Calvin Coolidge in 1928 to visit Cuba. The Rolling Stones arrived the same week and performed in front of an estimated 400,000 people, becoming the first major international rock band to play in the country where Fidel Castro banned rock and roll in 1961, according to the Guardian. “I have come here to bury the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas,” said Obama, addressing the Cuban people. The United States lost 58,000 [See Cuba to open doors, pg. 6]
Laura Chen / Roundup
Edouard Tchertchian, vice chair of Math Department and Math Instructor, speaks to Academic Senate Members during a meeting on Monday, April 25.
Regardless of the trends in fasion, on this day, denim means so much more. Denim Day marks the anniversary the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction in 1998. The court ruled the victim’s jeans were too tight, therefore she must have helped to take them off, consenting to the encounter. In protest, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans, according to The East Bay Times. Wearing jeans on the anniversary of the decision has become a symbol against sexual violence, and Pierce College has participated in Denim Day since 2002, as a part of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Lara Wong, a first year Student Engagement Coordinator, Counselor and co-adviser for the ASO, primary role in her position is to support students on campus. Her role with the ASO provides her with an opportunity to work with student leaders within student government who are representing the student voice on campus. This is Wong’s first opportunity to experience Denim Day, she looks forward to continuing this awareness day on the future. “The actual Denim Day started with the act of wearing tight jeans being misinterpreted kind of like saying this person was wearing something risqué so she deserved to be assaulted,” Dr. Conrady Wong
said. The ASO handed out flyers Tuesday on The Mall, inviting students to wear denim for a purpose for the event taking place today. “I expect a lot of people to show solidarity in wearing denim,” Wong said. “This is a time for Pierce to come together as a campus community in order to show awareness for the issue.” Director of the Student Health Center Beth Benne was part of the Campus Violence Response Team, that organized events for Denim Day since 2007. Kathy Oborn, the department chair of Criminal Justice, Political Science, Chicano Studies and Economics, wrote in an email that Denim Day began at Pierce in 2002 when it was a volunteer group of faculty and staff. It was part of a grant that the University of Southern California wrote and incorporated the Los Angeles Community College District. At the time, the only mandated sexual assault reporters were Benne and the female deputy. Since October 2014, with Title IX, anybody who is paid by the college with the exception of mental health providers, is a mandated reporter of sexual assault, according to Benne. “I’m very curious to see how Denim Day will go,” Benne said. “I’m excited that the students are running it, that’s an ultimately wonderful thing and it’s [See Wearing jeans, pg. 3]
Mohammad Djauhari / File Photo
Holly Hagan hangs a T-shirt during the Clothesline event of Denim Day on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. assault. On Denim Day, wearing jeans has become a symbol of protest and support against sexual assault. was trying to change the Higher One accounts for students to a credit union, because of Higher One’s extra fees they charge students for services and financial aid services. “Higher One charges $2.50 just to check your balance at an ATM, and $20 to replace your debit card if it gets lost or damaged,” Woods said. After speaking with the dean of the Financial Aid Office Woods discovered the policy that the banks had. “The fees are outrageous, and I want to have a credible bank for students to go to,” Woods said. Victoriano spoke about equality issues with many groups. She is hopeful to bring the community from all sides on one page to help one another grow and succeed. “It’s really important to address these issues for students, and not be afraid to speak up for student rights,” Victoriano said. ASO President Candidate Barbara Lombrano has also been involved with several issues on campus particularly with the parking, safety issues, and food
options. She is looking to give the student’s her commitment to them to serve their needs and fix their concerns. “With my experiences I have learned more about a commitment level, and what it takes to get the concerns of the student body heard,” Lombrano said. Lombrano’s opponent for president did not show to the forum to discuss his policies. Students must present a valid student identification and license to vote. The ballots will be stored in the office of the ASO Advisor or the Vice President of Student Services.
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